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Hamming code

Hamming code

7.0
A method that adds extra bits to digital data to find and fix one-bit errors
  • noun
  • /ˈhæmɪŋ koʊd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : código Hamming
  • Each word is encoded with a modified Hamming code when written to memory and is checked for errors when read from memory.

Examples

  • And so in principle, you ought to be able to do single error correction with Hamming codes, and they're very simple algorithms for doing that.

  • When transmitting data, the system uses a Hamming code to correct single-bit errors and ensure accurate communication.

  • In digital communication systems, a Hamming code helps identify and correct data corruption during transmission.

  • By implementing a Hamming code, engineers can significantly improve the reliability of data storage and transmission.

Synonyms

ECC
vsHamming code
  • Specialized
1 6.6

A system that finds and fixes errors in computer data using extra bits

is a particular scheme that fixes only single-bit errors
error correction code
vsHamming code
  • Specialized
4.3

A way of adding extra information to data so small errors can be found and fixed

is a specific code that corrects only single-bit errors
FEC
vsHamming code
  • Specialized
8.2

Extra data added to a signal so receivers can find and fix errors

focuses on correcting single-bit errors rather than general transmission faults

How Reliable

hash
  • Specialized
35 4.9
Hamming code
  • Specialized
7.0
cyclic redundancy check
  • Specialized
1 6.8
checksum
  • Specialized
1 7.4
parity check
  • Specialized
1 5.8

Surface Forms

Hamming code singular
Hamming codes plural

Morphology

Hamming + code

This is an eponymous technical term: 'Hamming' is a proper name with no semantic contribution a B1 learner can parse, and 'code' only signals a general class. Knowing the constituents might let a learner guess it is some kind of code, but they could not derive the specific meaning (an error‑correcting code that detects/corrects single‑bit errors) without prior technical knowledge, so the expression must be learned.

Etymology

The term Hamming code is named after the scientist Richard Hamming, who showed how to add extra bits to data to check for mistakes. The word code here means a pattern of these extra bits that acts like a small safety net to catch and 'fix' a single wrong bit, so the name now means a method that finds and corrects small errors.